If you’re not already a loyal patron of the Cape Girardeau Public Library, you may be soon. They recently contracted with MyLibrary Rewards, a third-party company that offers coupons, gift cards, and other goodies in exchange for picking up a book.
Library director Katie Hill says the incentive program is part of their goal to be more customer-focused, which was outlined in a three-year strategic plan adopted in January. She says it’s simple: the more items you check out, the more points you’ll earn to cash in on in-person and online items.
“You can get Amazon gift cards, Xbox Live for those gamers out there, and then obviously your local restaurants and other businesses in town,” says Hill. “It just depends on the vendor as to what the reward actually is.”
MyLibrary Rewards is based out of Indiana, and can be downloaded as an App on your smartphone. They typically partner with larger libraries, as smaller libraries have struggled with the program due to a lack in vendors in their area. But, Hill is confident it will fit in with Cape Girardeau’s options.
“If you’re in a rural community that doesn’t have a lot of businesses to choose from, it’s hard for this program to work,” says Hill. “I think because of our community and the number of businesses and vendors, it worked out well.”
One benefit to the program is that the rewards hold value across the U.S. Travelling patrons can redeem their points anywhere, and those who are moving to a new area can transfer points to their new library.
“Let’s say you’ve earned 3,000 points with us, and then you move to another library that also uses MyLibrary Rewards. Those points will still be there,” says Hill.
Hill says the incentives are just a nice way for the library to say ‘thank you’ to their approximately 139,000 yearly visitors.
“It’s something we hope they’ll get some benefit out of,” says Hill.